A cafe is Josh and Kelly Word’s new way to feed people.
“I have always known how to cook. I come from a long line of fantastic home cooks on both sides of my family,” says Kelly. “The ASBTDC has helped my husband and I take our passion for food from craft fairs and farmers markets to a sustainable thriving restaurant poised to expand.”
The Words are clients of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
After 16 years in the education sector, they have taken their passion for “good food that’s good for you” and channeled it into a restaurant and market. The couple, who also pastor a local church, purchased and renamed the former Coffee Cakes eatery located inside Marketplace II.
“We have gone from making jams and jellies in the kitchen for friends and family to owning and operating Marketplace Cafe, a from-scratch soup, salad, sandwich, and sweets lunch spot inside Marketplace II in Monticello. Our cafe houses our market where we proudly sell our jams, jellies, spices, fresh-ground grains, handmade pottery, grab-and-go dinners, casseroles, and more,” she said.
The center’s Aimee Weaver advised the Words on their business purchase. She also put them in touch with ASBTDC business specialists.
“We were especially happy to see all of the experts around Arkansas that we had access to as we were initially growing. When we were ready to hire employees, the ASBTDC connected us with human resources consultants that were able to produce an employee handbook that was legally sound. That gave us the structure to begin building systems that have served us well the past year.
“Since we began working with the ASBTDC a year ago, we have seen an increase in profit, we have created four jobs, and we have the tools and help we need to continue to scale,” said Kelly.
The Words plan to keep growing their business, which they operate under the umbrella, My Handcrafted Life.
“The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center has been with us every step of the way. We look forward to continue partnering with them as we grow. I would encourage anyone with a small business in Arkansas to take advantage of the vast resources that are made available to you through this organization. You will find the process painless, confidential, and profitable,” she said.
Learn more at www.MarketplaceCafe.co or on the cafe’s Facebook page.
Photos courtesy of Kelly Word